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Fibroblast Growth Factor Binding Protein 1, also known as FGFBP1 is a secreted fibroblast growth factor carrier protein. FGFBP1 plays a vital part in cell proliferation, differentiation and migration by binding to fibroblast growth factors and potentiating their biological effects on target cells. In addition, FGFBP1 also takes part in tumor growth as an angiogenic switch molecule, furthermore an expression of FGFBP1 has been associated with more than a few types of cancer as well as pancreatic and colorectal adenocarcinoma.

Cystatin C is part to the cystatin protein family, which has members with various cystatin-like sequences. Part of the proteins has the ability to act as active cysteine protease inhibitors, other members has lost or never had the ability. Three sub members of the cystatin protein family are the type 1 cystatins, type 2 cystatins & kininogens. The locus in chromosome twenty holds the most type 2 cystatin genes. Cystatin C can be found in the cystatin locus, it is the most common extracellular inhibitor of cysteine proteases, that is available in big volumes in biological fluids and exist in every tissue in the body.

Prolactin is a neuroendocrine hormone synthesized primarily by the pituitary gland but also a variety of other cell types including the placenta, brain and uterus. Its primary function is to promote and maintain lactation but has also been shown to have a role in breast cancer development, regulation of reproductive function and immunoregulation.

Ephrin-B3 (EFNB3) which belongs to the ephrin gene family is essential in brain development as well as in its maintenance. EFNB3 binds to, and induces the collapse of, commissural axons/growth cones in vitro. EFNB3 loosely binds Eph receptors located on bordering cells, leading to contact-dependent bidirectional signaling into neighboring cells. The EPH and EPH-related receptors comprise the largest subfamily of receptor protein-tyrosine kinases and are implicated in mediating developmental events, mostly in the nervous system.

Rat and mouse FGF-9 show a very high homology to human FGF-9. The transcripts for FGF-9 have been found in brain and in kidney tissue. Fibroblast Growth Factor-9 is a member of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family. FGF family members possess broad mitogenic and cell survival activities, and are involved in a variety of biological processes, including embryonic development, cell growth, morphogenesis, tissue repair, tumor growth and invasion. FGF9 was isolated as a secreted factor that exhibits a growth-stimulating effect on cultured glial cells. In nervous system, this protein is produced mainly by neurons and may be important for glial cell development. Expression of the mouse homolog of this gene was found to be dependent on Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling. Mice lacking the homolog gene displayed a male-to-female sex reversal phenotype, which suggested a role in testicular embryogenesis Fibroblast Growth Factor 9 may have a role in glial cell growth and differentiation during development, gliosis during repair and regeneration of brain tissue after damage, differentiation and survival of neuronal cells, and growth stimulation of glial tumors.

Frataxin is a mitochondrial iron binding protein that is part of the FRATAXIN family. Frataxin functions in regulating mitochondrial iron transport and respiration. The expansion of intronic trinucleotide repeat GAA results in Friedreich ataxia. Frataxin plays a role in iron homeostasis. Frataxin is an anti-apoptotic protein which prevents mitochondrial damage and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production.

Complement Factor Properdin (CFP) which is a plasma glycoprotein, is a positive regulator of the alternative complement pathway of the innate immune system. CFP binds and stabilizes the C3- and C5-convertase enzyme complexes in a feedback loop that eventually ends with formation of the membrane attack complex and lysis of the target cell. Mutations in CFP lead to 2 forms of properdin deficiency that cause high susceptibility to meningococcal infections.

Cystatin B or CSTB, is an protein (anti-protease) that is suspected to be involved in myoclonus epilepsy. As part of the encompasses proteins family, it has many cystatin-like sequences. Part of the cystatin superfamily are cysteine protease inhibitors; part don’t have the ability. CSTB can create a dimer that is stable because of noncovalent bonds and has a crucial part in shielding from lysosomal proteases leaking. Cystatin B can be found in the lysosomes, nucleus & the cytoplasm in cells.

The galectins are a family of beta-galactoside-binding proteins implicated in modulating cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. Galectin-1 is an autocrine negative growth factor that regulates cell proliferation. Galectin-1 regulates cell apoptosis and cell differentiation. Galectin-1 binds CD45, CD3 and CD4 & inhibits CD45 protein phosphatase activity and therefore the dephosphorylation of lyn kinase. Galectin-1 and its ligands are one of the master regulators of immune responses as T-cell homeostasis and survival, T-cell immune disorders, inflammation and allergies as well as host–pathogen interactions. Galectin-1 expression or overexpression in tumors and/or the tissue surrounding them must be considered as a sign of the malignant tumor progression that is often related to the long-range dissemination of tumoral cells (metastasis), to their dissemination into the surrounding normal tissue, and to tumor immune-escape. Galectin-1 in its oxidized form plays a number of important roles in the regeneration of the central nervous system after injury. The targeted overexpression (or delivery) of Galectin-1 should be considered as a method of choice for the treatment of some kinds of inflammation-related diseases, neurodegenerative pathologies and muscular dystrophies. In contrast, the targeted inhibition of Galectin-1 expression is what should be developed for therapeutic applications against cancer progression. Galectin-1 is thus a promising molecular target for the development of new and original therapeutic tools. There is 88% homology between the human and mouse galectin-1.

A 16-kDa peptide hormone secreted from white adipocytes and implicated in the regulation of food intake and energy balance. Leptin provides the key afferent signal from fat cells in the feedback system that controls body fat stores.

Ferritin is the main intracellular iron storage protein in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Ferritin’s major functions are the storage of iron in a soluble and nontoxic state and its release in a controlled fashion. An iron-containing protein complex is found mostly in the intestinal mucosa, spleen, and liver. Ferritin is composed of 24 subunits of the heavy and light chains. Variation in ferritin subunit composition may influence the rates of iron uptake and release in different tissues. Defects in the light chain ferritin gene are linked to a number of neurodegenerative diseases and hyperferritinemia-cataract syndrome. The genes that encode the light and heavy chains are on located different chromosomes. The light chain genes are in chromosome region 19q13.3-q13.4 whilst those for the heavy chain are in chromosome region 11q12-q13. Ferritin is shaped like a hollow sphere, inside which the iron is stored in the Fe(III) oxidation state. The iron is integrated in the mineral ferrihydrite, [FeO(OH)]8[FeO(H2PO4)], which is attached to the inner wall of the sphere. To release iron once the body needs it, the iron must be altered from the Fe(III) to the Fe(II) oxidation state. Subsequently, the iron leaves through channels in the spherical structure. Therefore, the structure of ferritin is tremendously important for the protein's ability to store and release iron in a controlled mode.
The amount of ferritin in the blood (serum ferritin level) is directly related to the amount of iron stored in the body. The body has a "buffer" against iron deficiency (if the blood has too little iron, ferritin can release more) and, to a lesser extent, iron overload (if the blood and tissues of the body have too much iron, ferritin can help store the excess iron).

FHIT is a member of the histidine triad gene family. FHIT gene encodes a diadenosine 5',5'''-P1,P3-triphosphate hydrolase involved in purine metabolism. FHIT gene includes the common fragile site FRA3B on chromosome 3, where carcinogen-induced damage can lead to translocations and abnormal transcripts of this gene. The FHIT protein is a tumor suppressor with reduced or no expression in numerous types of cancer. FHIT may also act as a tumor suppressor in normal cells. Alterations and deletions of the FHIT (Fragile Histidine Triad) gene are strongly linked to the genesis and establishment of human tumors of the lung, cervix, breast, colon, stomach, and pancreas. The expression of FHIT is more often lost in cancers of individuals with familial mutations causing deficiency in DNA repair genes such as BRCA1, BRCA2 and MSH2. In vitro FHIT functions as a hydrolase that cleaves diadenosine triphosphate (Ap3A) to ADP and AMP. The FHIT -Ap3A enzyme-substrate complex seems to be the tumor suppressor signal. The restoration of FHIT expression in FHIT -deficient cancer cells leads to apoptosis, involving the intrinsic caspase pathway, in cancer-derived cells and in tumor xenografts.

Growth/differentiation factors (GDF1-GDF15) belong to the BMP family of TGF-beta superfamily proteins. These factors are produced as inactive preproproteins which are subsequently cleaved and assembled into active secreted homodimers. BMP13 is a growth factor which controls proliferation and cellular differentiation in the retina and bone formation. BMP13 has a central role in regulating apoptosis during retinal development. GDF proteins are vital during embryonic development, particularly in the skeletal, nervous, and muscular systems. BMP13 gene mutations result in colobomata, which are congenital abnormalities in ocular development, and in Klippel-Feil syndrome (KFS), which is a congenital disorder of spinal segmentation.

POGLUT1 is a homologue of Rumi from Drosophila, an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-retaining glucosyltransferase which catalyzes the transfer of glucose and xylose from UDP-glucose and UDP-xylose, respectively, to EGF repeats on the consensus sequence C-X-S-X-P-C. POGLUT1 positively regulates Notch signaling without affecting Notch ligand binding.

Stanniocalcin 1 (STC1) is the mammalian homologue of STC, which was originally identified as a calcium/phosphate-regulating hormone in bony fishes. In contrast, STC1 may play an autocrine and paracrine role with pleiotropic effects in mammals. It is expressed in a wide variety of tissues, but unexpectedly is not detected in the circulation under normal circumstances, which is possibly caused by its attaching to soluble and tethered forms of a high-affinity binding protein. STC-1 can affect calcium homeostasis, bone and muscle mass and structure, and angiogenesis through effects on osteoblasts, osteoclasts, myoblasts/myocytes, and endothelial cells in mouse model. Differential regulation of myocardial STC1 protein expression was reported in heart failure. In addition, STC1 may regulate calcium currents in cardiomyocytes and may contribute to the alterations in calcium homeostasis of the failing heart. STC1 was found to be a selective modulator of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-induced endothelial migration and morphogenesis, an inhibitor of macrophage chemotaxis and chemokinesis, suppressor of progesterone and luteinization inhibitor. Together with STC-2, it may play important roles in the processes of implantation and decidualization in the rat. In terminally differentiated adipocytes, it may function as a "survival factor", which contributes to the maintenance of the integrity of mature adipose tissue. In context with its possible role in gestation, a Big STC, a three highermolecular- mass variant has been described. STC1 was identified as one of hypoxia-responsive genes coupled to hypoxia-driven angiogenesis.
Current research indicates that STC-1 might be a useful molecular marker to detect tumor cells in blood and bone marrow from patients with various types of malignancies.

A 16-kDa peptide hormone secreted from white adipocytes and implicated in the regulation of food intake and energy balance. Leptin provides the key afferent signal from fat cells in the feedback system that controls body fat stores.

Vimentin expression in human malignant glioma cells depends on cellular density, algorithms of drug delivery and chemo/radio treatment. Vimentin and detyrosinated microtubules provide structural support for the extensive microtentacles observed in detached tumor cells and a mechanism to promote successful metastatic spread. Primary colorectal carcinomas display aberrant expression of vimentin, and have activated Notch and TGFbeta signaling pathways. Vimentin is a strong arterial substrate for transglutaminases. Transglutaminase-mediated vimentin dimerization results in a novel unifying pathway by which vasodilatory and remodeling responses may be regulated. Ablation of vimentin expression inhibits migration and invasion of colon and breast cancer cell lines. Vimentin is the main intermediate filament protein in mesenchymal cells and is therefore of value in the differential diagnosis of undifferentiated neoplasms.

Decorin (DCN) is a small cellular or pericellular matrix proteoglycan which is closely related in structure to biglycan protein. Decorin is a secreted protein which binds to collagen and fibronectin in extracellular matrix. Decorin appears in different glycoforms, substituted with chondroitin sulfate or dermatan sulfate consistent with the original tissue. DCN contains one attached glycosaminoglycan chain. Decorin influences the rate of fibril formation. Decorin is capable of suppressing the growth of various tumor cell lines. DCN gene defects cause corneal dystrophy. The DCN gene is a candidate gene for Marfan syndrome.

EFNA1 belongs to the ephrin (EPH) family. The EPH subfamily is the biggest group of receptor protein kinases and they take part in vital nervous system function and development.

Procollagen C-endopeptidase enhancer 1, also known as PCOLCE binds to the C-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen and enhances procollagen C-proteinase activity. In addition, C-terminal processed part of PCPE (CT-PCPE) has a metalloproteinase inhibitory activity. Among the diseases which are associated with PCOLCE: bone fracture & oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy.

F-Box Protein 2 (FBXO2) is a part of the F-box protein family. The F-box proteins are one of the 4 subunits of the ubiquitin protein ligase complex called SCFs (SKP1-cullin-F-box), which takes part in phosphorylation-dependent ubiquitination. The F-box proteins are divided into 3 classes. FBXO2 belongs to the Fbxs class which contains either different protein-protein interaction modules or no recognizable motifs. FBXO2 is extremely similar to the rat neural F Box 42 kDa protein which is enriched in the nervous system and plays a role in maintaining neurons in a postmitotic state.

The type II transmembrane protein FASLG is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily. A fas ligand/receptor interaction has a significant part in the regulation of the immune system and the advancement of cancer. FASLG is expressed on the activated T cell surface as a nondisulfidelinked homotrimer. FASLG binding to Fas/CD95/TNFRSF6 on a nearby cell prompts apoptosis in the Fas expressing cell. FASLG is released from the cell surface by metalloproteinases as a soluble molecule that stays trimeric and is able to bind with Fas, but its capability to activate apoptosis is radically reduced. In addition, FASLG binds to DcR3 - a soluble trap receptor with no signal transduction capabilities. Flawed Fas-mediated apoptosis causes oncogenesis in addition to drug resistance in existing tumors. Constitutive expression of FASLG in a variety of tumors enables their immune evasion. Both mouse and human FASLG are active on mouse and human cells.

Prolactin-inducible protein (PIP) is a main protein component of benign breast gross cysts. PIP is a famous indicator of breast cancer, since it is found in around 50% of all breast cancer specimens. PIP is expressed in exocrine glands, in pathologic conditions, in breast cysts and breast cancers exhibiting apocrine features. PIP and prostate specific antigen are co-expressed in androgen receptor-positive breast tumours.